Republic of China: Ace Pilot

The battle is over.

The sounds of gunfire have ceased, leaving only the rustling of the wind through the leaves.

The air was thick with the mingled smells of gunpowder and blood, making it suffocating.

The ground was littered with the corpses of Japanese soldiers, some curled up in a ball, others mutilated by bombs. Scattered rifles, grenade launchers, and swords were scattered around. Of the 200 Japanese marines who were touted as elite, none survived.

British and French soldiers stood still, looking at the horrific scene before them with complex expressions, their eyes filled with shock.

They had never seen such a resolute and thorough attack, and finally understood the deep-seated hatred in the eyes of the Chinese soldiers.

Of course, it was not unwarranted cruelty, but a resolute determination to pay for the invaders' blood debts, and a venting of grief and indignation at the trampling of their homeland and the slaughter of their compatriots.

After finishing his report to the convoy, U.S. tank instructor Yarus continued his previous conversation with Taishan's translator: "I still don't understand why your hatred runs so deep. Do you have to kill them all to vent your anger?"

"No, this is not a personal grudge. I can tell you some of the atrocities that occurred during this war."

His words also attracted the attention of the British people nearby, as well as the French soldiers who understood English.

Everyone is curious about what caused the Chinese soldiers to disregard human life.

But what they heard next was far more shocking than the corpses in front of them.

They conducted experiments on living people, wantonly burned, killed, and looted, cruelly humiliated and murdered pregnant women and children, and even carried out massacres of more than 100,000 people!

"say no more!"

Yarus could not bear the suffering of the Chinese, nor could the British and French.

They understood the root of the hatred, and no longer felt that the Chinese were cruel.

After all, what the translator said was a hundred times more cruel than what was actually happening in front of them.

Meanwhile, the convoy on the highway arrived at the area in front of the ambush point.

Lieutenant Colonel Lemerre immediately ordered the British mine-clearing team accompanying him to conduct a comprehensive and meticulous clearing operation on the section of the road that was buried with landmines.

With mine detectors in hand, the soldiers bent over and carefully advanced step by step along the road, each step taken with extreme caution, for fear of triggering hidden landmines.

Once the mine detector beeps, the soldiers immediately stop and mark the area clearly.

After the mine detection is completed, professional demining personnel will carry tools and remotely detonate the landmines.

The booming sounds rose and fell, each explosion accompanied by flying dirt and gravel. The once relatively smooth road was blasted into craters of varying depths, and the debris and dust lingered in the air for a long time.

And so, the convoy remained by the roadside for two whole days. The soldiers searched and detonated the mines day and night, leaving no suspicious corner unchecked, until they confirmed that all the mines had been detonated and no hidden dangers remained.

Subsequently, local laborers, carrying tools, filled and compacted the craters created by the bombing with soil and gravel, and the narrow road was finally restored to traffic.

In the past two days, the American tank instructor, Yarus, rarely spoke, only occasionally standing aside, silently watching the Chinese drivers methodically inspect the tanks and clean up the battlefield. His eyes showed less of the initial confusion and doubt, and more of an indescribable awe.

He may still not be able to fully empathize with this deep-seated hatred, but he no longer has the right to question their actions, nor can he deny that the bravery and determination of these Chinese soldiers far exceeded his imagination.

Two days later, the convoy set off again.

Thirty M2A4 light tanks remained neatly arranged at the head and tail of the convoy, guarding the military vehicles loaded with munitions in the middle as they advanced.

The convoy proceeded steadily along the road, through lush tropical jungles where birds and animals occasionally appeared, but nothing else seemed amiss.

The journey was smooth and unimpeded. After more than a day of driving, the convoy successfully entered French Indochina.

Inside the border, 1000 French soldiers were waiting; this was a support force specially arranged by the Governor-General of French Indochina.

Lieutenant Colonel Le Maire disembarked and briefly handed over the convoy to the French commander in charge of the escort. The convoy then sped off toward Hanoi, escorted by 1000 French soldiers.

After the convoy entered French Indochina, Fang Wen ceased conducting aerial reconnaissance for it.

His next task was to lead 10 pilots from the Taishan National Salvation Air Force, flying P-40 fighter jets purchased by the French, from Yangon Airport to Hanoi.

Previously, they had successfully transported 20 P-40 fighter jets to Hanoi in two separate trips. This is the last batch of 10. After all 10 are delivered, the 30 American-made P-40 fighter jets will officially be under the command of the French Indochina Air Force, becoming their air force to resist the Japanese invasion.

That afternoon, Fang Wen led a formation of 10 P40 fighter jets and successfully arrived at Hanoi military airport.

The airport was already packed with people. The Governor-General of French Indochina personally led the delegation, followed by government officials from Hanoi, military generals, and representatives from all walks of life. Everyone was excited to see the newly arrived batch of military equipment.

Ten P-40 fighter jets landed smoothly in succession, the markings on their wings gleaming in the sunlight, and the roar of their engines gradually subsided.

Fang Wen spoke to the pilots via the Taishan walkie-talkie: "Don't rush down. The governor said we need to maintain a good image. Do as I say: open the hatch, stand up, wave to the crowd, and smile."

The pilots of the Taishan National Salvation Aviation Team did as Fang Wen instructed, opened the cockpit canopy, stood up, and waved to the people with smiles.

Reporters snapped photos, capturing the moment.

The crowd waved their flags enthusiastically and cheered.

The pilots then descended the boarding stairs and lined up in front of the aircraft. Fang Wen stood at the front of the line.

The governor led his men over, grasped Fang Wen's hand tightly, and said with a slightly excited tone, "Mr. Fang Wen, thank you so much for everything you've done! Now we also have the strength to fight against the Japanese army."

Fang Wen smiled and replied, "Governor, you're too kind. This is an agreement between us. Providing you with the military procurement will also benefit Taishan. Moreover, I hope you can join the fight against the Axis powers and fight the invaders together."

At this moment, the colonial air force commander behind the governor stepped forward, his eyes fixed on the pilots of the Taishan National Salvation Air Force, his eyes full of admiration and eagerness.

He asked, "Mr. Fang Wen, where did these pilots come from? Their P40 piloting skills are very proficient, their movements are smooth and efficient, and their takeoffs and landings are stable. They are obviously experienced veterans, even more professional than we imagined."

Fang Wen explained: "They are members of the National Salvation Air Force hired by Taishan from the United States. Some of them had served in the U.S. Army Air Forces, and others had received professional training. They all have relatively rich experience in flying American fighter jets and are very familiar with the operation and maintenance of American fighter jets, which is why they are so good at flying the P40."

Upon hearing this, the Air Force Commander's face showed a pleading expression: "Mr. Fang Wen, our colony's air force pilots have always flown old-fashioned biplane fighters and have no experience with this type of monoplane American fighter. They are not even familiar with the instrument panel. The United States has only assigned two flight instructors. It will be difficult to enable our pilots to master the P-40's flying skills in a short period of time. If your National Salvation Air Force members could stay and assist us in the training, I believe the teaching efficiency would be greatly improved, allowing our pilots to master the operation of the aircraft more quickly and enter combat sooner. On behalf of the colony's air force, I earnestly request your help!"

Fang Wen's gaze swept over the pilots of the Taishan National Salvation Aviation Team beside him, his mind racing.

The duty of the National Salvation Air Force is to return to the country to fight, but the current situation in the country is somewhat delicate, and a suitable opportunity is needed, such as to carry out missions together with the Flying Tigers.

As French Indochina served as the frontline defense zone of Burma, if the British could not withstand the Japanese offensive, they would likely find it difficult to hold Burma, and the pressure on their newly formed army would increase significantly.

Helping the French is helping yourself.

He replied, “No problem. I’ll have them stay for a month-long short-term training course, where they will be taught piloting skills and maintenance knowledge without reservation, and I will try my best to help your pilots quickly master the P40’s piloting skills and achieve combat readiness as soon as possible.”

The Air Force Commander was overjoyed and thanked Fang Wen repeatedly. The worry on his face vanished, and the Governor also showed a relieved smile, gaining more confidence in the subsequent defense work.

Subsequently, the pilots of the Taishan National Salvation Aviation Team remained at the Hanoi military airfield to conduct short-term training with American flight instructors.

They patiently explained the key points of operating the P40 fighter jet, flight skills, emergency response methods, and daily maintenance knowledge, and provided hands-on guidance to French pilots in practical operation, explaining every detail from takeoff and landing to aerial formation and simulated combat.

French pilots were highly enthusiastic about learning, eager to ask questions, and took the initiative to practice every day. They made rapid progress and were able to independently complete basic takeoff and landing operations in just a few days.

Five days later, a convoy of military vehicles loaded with firearms, ammunition, and military supplies arrived safely in Hanoi.

The long convoy did not enter the city, nor did it attract crowds like airplanes do.

Large quantities of weapons and ammunition were transported in an orderly manner to military warehouses in different areas of Hanoi, where warehouse managers carefully counted, registered, and stored them.

Subsequently, these brand-new American weapons and ammunition were distributed to French soldiers, and their morale soared when they received the new rifles, machine guns and ammunition.

With advanced weaponry and subsequent systematic training, the combat effectiveness of the French Indochina army was greatly enhanced, and their initial fear of the Japanese army was gradually replaced by confidence.

Meanwhile, far away in Tokyo, inside the Japanese military headquarters building, a heated debate was taking place over the situation in French Indochina.

The atmosphere in the conference room was extremely tense, as if the air itself was thick with tension.

The Japanese generals were divided into two distinct factions, each sticking to their own arguments and refusing to yield, arguing heatedly until their faces were red.

One faction, led by Lieutenant General Ichiro Yamada, advocated continuing the offensive into northern French Indochina. He slammed his fist on the table, his tone forceful:

"The previous defeat was merely an accident! It was due to a lapse in our intelligence, not a lack of combat effectiveness in our troops! As long as we concentrate our forces, intensify our offensive, and continue our assault on the northern border of Vietnam, we will surely break through the French defenses. Then, we will join forces with the marines at Haiphong to attack Hanoi. Once we take Hanoi, we will control the entire northern French Indochina! No matter how many weapons they have, it will be useless. We cannot back down because of a small setback; that would only embolden the French and cause our Great Japanese Empire to lose face!"

Yamada Ichiro's words were echoed by some army generals, who nodded in agreement and advocated for a full-scale attack on North Vietnam at all costs to save face and achieve the established strategic objectives.

The other faction, led by Vice Admiral Kenta Sato, firmly opposed a direct assault. He frowned and retorted:

"No! Lieutenant General Yamada, you're being too stubborn! The current situation is far beyond our control. The French have acquired a large amount of American weaponry, from fighter jets to tanks to firearms and ammunition, significantly enhancing their combat capabilities. Moreover, they have the assistance of Chinese forces, making them a force to be reckoned with. More importantly, the terrain along the northern border of Vietnam is complex, with dense jungles and rugged mountain roads, hindering the advance of our mechanized forces and making logistical support difficult. We suffered heavy losses in the last bombing raid by the Chinese Air Force. Do we want to repeat that? I believe we should temporarily avoid direct confrontation, change our offensive strategy, and instead attack French Indochina. The French forces there are weak and their defenses are lax; it's not their primary defensive area. We can easily take over South Vietnam, establish a solid military outpost, stockpile troops and supplies, and then gradually advance northward. This is the only way to achieve our goal of controlling French Indochina at minimal cost."

Kenta Sato's words also received support from many naval officers and some army generals, who believed that in the current situation, avoiding direct confrontation and advancing indirectly was the wisest choice.

The two sides argued vehemently, each with their own reasons, and the debate in the meeting room grew increasingly heated, even escalating to the point of physical confrontation.

Just then, the Chief of Staff of the Japanese Army stood up, raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, and the conference room fell silent instantly, with everyone's eyes focused on him.

The Chief of Staff's gaze swept over each of the generals present: "Lieutenant General Yamada's fighting spirit is commendable, but Lieutenant General Sato's concerns are not without merit. The failure at the North Vietnam border last time has already served as a warning to us. We cannot blindly launch another offensive, otherwise we will only pay a greater price. Taking into account the opinions of both sides, I have decided to abandon the plan to launch a strong attack on the North Vietnam border and instead implement a new offensive plan."

"We can land directly at Haiphong Port, which we already control, and mobilize our elite mechanized tank units. Emulating the German blitzkrieg tactics, we can concentrate our superior forces and launch a rapid surprise attack on Hanoi, catching them off guard! Haiphong Port has flat terrain, which is convenient for our troops to land and assemble. Moreover, it is close to Hanoi, which allows us to advance quickly, break through the French defenses in one fell swoop, and capture Hanoi!"

The Chief of the General Staff's words were final. Although the generals present still had some disagreements, they all nodded and obeyed the order.

After all, in the Japanese military headquarters, the Chief of Staff's orders were the highest directives, and no one dared to disobey them without authorization.

Subsequently, the Chief of Staff issued specific operational orders to establish the Indochina Expeditionary Army in response to the French Indochina campaign.

The Indochina Expeditionary Army comprised:
Part of the 5th Division (motorized infantry)
14th Independent Tank Regiment (60 Type 95 tanks)

One unit of the 1st Tank Regiment (30 Type 97 medium tanks)

Bicycle Mobile Brigade (1000 people)
In addition, there are Marines (3000 personnel).
A total of 26,000 troops.

They called themselves the Eastern Blitzkrieg Force, aiming to replicate the operational methods of the German mechanized forces and quickly capture Hanoi. (End of Chapter)